NFL Player News

Breida hasn't discussed a contract extension with the Dolphins, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports.

Breida signed a second-round restricted free agent tender with the 49ers in mid-April, only to be traded to the Dolphins a week later in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick. The 25-year-old is scheduled for a $3.3 million salary and is expected to split backfield snaps with Jordan Howard, while 2019 holdovers Patrick Laird, Myles Gaskin and Kalen Ballage presumably will need to compete for a roster spot. Given the current climate of economic uncertainty, the Dolphins may be hesitant to offer Breida an extension.

Mostert asked for a trade after the 49ers denied a request to bring his salary in line with teammate Tevin Coleman's, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Coleman has a $4.55 million base salary for the second and final season of his contract, while Mostert is scheduled to make $2.58 million in the second year of a three-year deal. The request for a modest raise seems reasonable, but agent Brett Tessler says discussions with the team have been unproductive. The 49ers already traded Matt Breida earlier this offseason, leaving them with Coleman, Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson behind presumed starter Mostert. It isn't an impressive group, but coach Kyle Shanahan has a strong track record of coaxing production from less-than-elite running backs.

Mostert submitted a trade request to the 49ers on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mostert's request comes via his agent, Brett Tessler, following what Tessler describes as "months of unproductive talks with the 49ers about fairly adjusting" the running back's contract. Following the team's trade of Matt Breida to Miami earlier in the offseason, San Francisco's other backfield options currently include Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson.

Despite competing with Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the backfield, Williams expects to enjoy a breakout season in 2020, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Williams is 28 years old and entering the second season of a two-year, $5.1 million extension, while Edwards-Helaire is a 21-year-old first-round pick. The rookie may be the one with the significant investment behind him, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll enter Week 1 in the lead role. An abbreviated offseason program should work in favor of Williams, who already has two seasons of experience in Andy Reid's offense, highlighted by 540 total yards and 10 touchdowns in five playoff appearances. The workload division in KC's backfield figures to be one of the leading fantasy storylines throughout summer and into the fall.

Swift announced Saturday via his personal Twitter account that he signed his four-year contract with the Lions.

The question now becomes, what type of role does the talented back assume at the NFL level? Kerryon Johnson, the team's 2018 second-round pick, has briefly flashed moments of legitimate talent throughout his two-year career, including a rookie campaign in which he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. But injuries and general ineffectiveness last season from the Auburn product seem to set the stage for Johnson and Swift to operate as a 1-2 tandem, with the latter likely handling snaps as the receiving threat out of the backfield. The Lions also spent a 2020 fifth-round pick on the versatile Jason Huntley who should at least occupy some of the more obvious pass-catching scenarios over either back, but it's quite clear that Swift's star is the one that is shining the brightest in the Lions backfield at the moment.

Gaskin (ankle) will compete with Patrick Laird and Kalen Ballage for the No. 3 running back job in training camp, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Gaskin and Laird both saw increased usage down the stretch of their rookie seasons in 2019, with Ballage having flamed out after averaging just 1.8 yards on 74 carries. Prior to suffering an ankle injury Week 16, Gaskin at least proved superior efficiency to Ballage, taking 36 carries for 133 yards and one touchdown while hauling in seven of 12 targets for 51 yards. Provided he doesn't suffer any setbacks recovering from the ankle issue, the 2019 seventh-round pick could offer Laird legitimate competition for reserve duties.

Dillon announced Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he signed his four-year rookie contract with the Packers.

The earliest running back picked by Green Bay since 2013 (Eddie Lacy, 61st overall), Dillon was a curious selection at No. 62 in this April's draft, considering the backfield already is populated by Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. The rookie out of Boston College may be viewed as a potential successor for Jones, who could become a free agent after the 2020 season and may be seeking a big payday after tying for the league lead with 19 touchdowns in 2019. Dillon himself brings a different dimension to the Packers' ground game. Listed at 247 pounds with 4.53 speed, he's a decent bet to earn snaps in short-yardage and perhaps even goal-line situations as a rookie after reeling off three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in college.

Wilkins (knee) likely will enter training camp as the No. 4 running back on the depth chart, Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site reports.

The 2018 fifth-round pick eclipsed 300 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons as Indianapolis' secondary early-down back behind Marlon Mack, but the addition of second-round pick Jonathan Taylor significantly dampens his outlook for 2020. Nyheim Hines is set to operate as the passing-down back, likely leaving scraps for Wilkins, barring an injury.

Elliott (illness) said he's feeling better after testing positive for COVID-19, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. "I would say I had maybe one or two days when I felt symptoms," Elliott relayed in a Zoom call Wednesday. "Even then, it wasn't too bad. I had a cough and a little bit of shortness of breath. Now, I feel good. I feel normal."

Elliott's comments represent his first public statement since word leaked June 15 of his positive test. Until Wednesday, though, it was unclear whether or not he was symptomatic, which he confirmed was the case. Elliott has another week to go of self-isolation and "still can't work out," per John Breech of CBS Sports. However, with training camp likely a month away, Elliott has plenty of time to get his bearings once he's healthy enough to do so.

Conner has been working out five or six days per week throughout the offseason, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Conner took some time to let his body heal after an injury-plagued 2019 campaign, but it doesn't sound like any of the issues have impacted his offseason routine. He says the pandemic has been conducive to a healthy lifestyle, forcing him to eat meals at home and leaving him with plenty of time to work out. The 25-year-old enters the final season of his rookie contract as the presumed leader of the Pittsburgh backfield, though he could face some snap competition from Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell and rookie fourth-round pick Anthony McFarland. The Steelers appear to have made it an annual habit to draft a running back in the middle rounds, which partially explains why there haven't been any rumors about Conner signing a contract extension.